§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the average percentage of heat loss through the roofs of British houses; and what steps he is taking to improve the general standards of insulation of British roofs.
§ Mr. KaufmanIn an average semidetached house built before the early 1960s, and not subsequently fitted with extra insulating material, about one-fifth of the total heat input is lost through the roof. In houses built to current building regulations standards, which require insulation in the roof, the corresponding proportion is about one-ninth. A new regulation is being considered in which the current insulation standard for roofs 103W would be approximately doubled. Other improvements would be made in insulation requirements for walls and floors. With regard to existing housing, measures to improve insulation are under consideration.